December 2014 – I Walk Alone

Last walk of the year

29 December 2014

On Monday I took my snotty nose and hacking cough out for one last gasp attempt to make one hundred miles in December. Technically it wouldn’t be my last walk of the year but it would be the final opportunity to put in some long miles. Given how rough I felt, it remained to be seen just how many miles I’d manage, especially with thick frost still sparkling on the pavements. The Riverside walk seemed like a good place to start and that was about as much of a plan as I had. Continue reading Last walk of the year

Light and shade

27 & 28 Declener 2014

On Saturday I had to go back to work but consoled myself with a reminder that we were all allowed to go home two hours early so I’d only be working nine to five. Unfortunately this reminder put the Dolly Parton song in my head and it followed me all through the cold streets to the office. Winter appeared to have arevived overnight and, although we had no snow, or even frost, the wind that kept me awake by trying to blow my house down was icy cold. The sunrise photo I took on the river made it look far warmer than it felt and, up on Horseshoe Bridge , even the bars of golden light shining through the struts couldn’t make me hang around to try for a decent photo. Continue reading Light and shade

Blowing away the cobwebs

26 December 2014

Our Christmas Day was a quiet affair, lots of food and sitting around with the family. Much of it wearing the silly gold hats from our Christmas dinner crackers, well apart from Commando Junior who steadfastly refused to do something so juvenile. Originally I’d planned on going for a little walk but time ran away and I didn’t. Sitting around in front of the fire eating chocolates all day is surprisingly tiring. Continue reading Blowing away the cobwebs

Merry Christmas

24 December 1014

Finally, with one more trip into town and two trips to the supermarket, the Christmas preparations were complete. Presents were wrapped, some cooking and cleaning done. One thing we didn’t do this year was put up decorations. Somehow, it didn’t seem right when our heads were full of the big gap left by Commando Senior. This year it will be a quiet celebration, just us, some presents and some food. There may be some walking. In fact there has to be some walking if I’m going to make those hundred December miles. Continue reading Merry Christmas

Mansbridge, last minute shopping and making up the miles

21 December 2014

Somehow Christmas has crept up on me when I wasn’t looking. Perhaps this has something to do with losing four days to flu. So Sunday found me with presents to buy and lots of miles to walk if I wanted to make the hundred by the end of the month. It seemed a good idea, then, to combine the two things and walk the five miles to the Swan Centre in Eastleigh. Continue reading Mansbridge, last minute shopping and making up the miles

What happened to winter?

19 & 20 December 2014

By Friday morning the WordPress upgrade debacle of the night before felt like it had been a bad dream. When I checked the blog I was glad to see things looked relatively normal although some work was still needed to make things pretty. Sadly I didn’t have time for that because I had to go to work. At least it wasn’t raining but the wet pavements told me it had been. It was colder by a few degrees too but nothing that could really be termed wintry. It may be December but somehow winter doesn’t seem to be able to get a grip this year. Continue reading What happened to winter?

Top marks LCN, epic fail WordPress!

17 & 18 December 2014

On Wednesday I returned to work feeling about eighty percent better but still weak and slightly wooly headed. The best I can say is that I got through the day and there was some walking. Sadly the walking was through drizzly streets. There were no photos, just one foot in front of the other and willpower to get there. Continue reading Top marks LCN, epic fail WordPress!

Night walking and shining lights

16 December 2014

After almost a whole week with no walking of any kind unless you count from the bed to the loo, the December hundred miles were looking more and more doubtful. My little Tuesday morning jaunt up the Big Hill, steep as it is, and a wander around the garden didn’t really help matters. Still, I had a plan to get a few more miles under my belt before I went back to work on Wednesday and this involved a little night walking. Continue reading Night walking and shining lights

Surprises in the winter garden

16 December 2014

After my Tuesday shopping trip and a little rest while I drank a warming cup of coffee, I decided to go out and see how my poor neglected garden was doing. At a glance, apart from the bright yellow flowers on the mahonia, it looked rather barren. The tall spikes of starry seed heads on the garlic chives added to the sense of desolation and I wondered if there’d be anything at all to see. Continue reading Surprises in the winter garden

The holly and the ivy

15 & 16 December 2014

Being ill and housebound for almost a week has meant not only a lack of walking miles for December but a decided lack of photos or things to write about. There was a fair bit of looking out of the window from the sofa when I was awake but the energy to pick up the phone and take any pictures of what I saw out there was decidedly lacking. On Monday Commando drove me into town for a little more Christmas present buying but, still feeling a little wobbly, the only picture I took was of one of the cheery decorations on a stall in the German Market. Some presents were bought though so I’d call that progress. Continue reading The holly and the ivy